Question

3.4 MIXED FACTORING

1. Utilize all of the strategies for factoring in order to factor the following polynomials.
Reminder: Combine like-terms prior to factoring.

a. x² - 4x-2x+8

Answer 1

(x -2)(x -4)

Explanation:

You want to factor x² - 4x -2x +8.

Factor by grouping

We recognize that the product of the coefficients of the two linear terms is equal to the contant, so this is more easily factored by not combining like terms prior to factoring.

Grouping the terms in pairs, we find we can factor each pair:

(x² -4x) + (-2x +8)

= x(x -4) -2(x -4) . . . . . these terms have a common factor of (x -4)

= (x -2)(x -4) . . . . . . . factored form of the expression